Football Party Recipes

Score a touchdown on game day with crowd-friendly football party recipes, including chicken wings, nachos, guacamole, pretzel rolls and more top-rated favorites. Get ready to elevate your football party to the next level with these easy and irresistible game day snacks!

A collage of recipes, including crispy chicken wings, a cheese ball in the shape of a football, onion rings and taco salad cups.

Football season is here, and that means it’s time to gather your friends and family for some game day fun! Whether you’re cheering for your favorite team or just in it for the commercials, one thing’s for sure: you need delicious food to keep everyone fueled and happy. Get ready to score big with crowd-pleasing football party food ideas that will have your guests cheering for more.

Best Chicken Wing Recipes for Game Day

No football party is complete without a platter of crispy, saucy chicken wings. From the classic heat of Buffalo to unique global-inspired recipes, prepare to embark on a wing journey that will have your taste buds cheering. Best of all, these recipes can be baked or air-fried for the ultimate in stress-free entertaining.

Dips & Spreads

From creamy classics like creamy artichoke dip to protein-packed guacamole and cheesy delights, this section is all about the mouthwatering dips and spreads that will have your guests dipping, scooping and savoring every touchdown-worthy bite.

  • 5-Ingredient Pizza Dip: Enjoy all the flavors of pizza in a cheesy dip that can be customized with all of your favorite pizza toppings.
  • Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip: Grab the store-bought rotisserie chicken for this ultimate gameday snack that’s creamy, cheesy and a little bit spicy.
  • Quick Beer Cheese Dip: This creamy, cheesy dip stars your favorite beer, smoked paprika, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, a bit of Dijon mustard and loads of cheddar cheese. It’s my all-time favorite dip for soft pretzels but chips or veggies are great, too!
  • Roasted Garlic Hummus: This homemade hummus is a fast and healthy dip loaded with an entire head of roasted garlic.
  • Jalapeño Corn Dip with Bacon: If you love the subtle spice and creamy cheesiness of jalapeño poppers, then get those chips ready for dunking because this dip delivers bigtime flavor in every garlicky, cheesy, bacon- and jalapeño-packed bite.
  • Rotisserie Chicken Taco Dip: Unlike a vertically-stacked traditional layered taco dip, my taco dip is wide and round, which means every dip yields a chip fully loaded with alllll of the chicken taco dip components.
  • Warm and Cheesy Onion Dip: It’s hot, creamy and perfect for dunking with tortilla chips or fresh veggies. Best of all, it can be made a day in advance then baked right before serving!
  • Green Goddess Avocado Hummus: Creamy, citrusy, garlicky perfection.
  • Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower Dip: This rich and savory dip is perfect for scooping up with crackers, sliced bread or fresh vegetables. Best of all, can be prepared in advance and baked as your guests arrive!
  • Bacon Scallion Hummus: Crispy bacon is blended with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and scallions, resulting in a creamy and savory hummus with a hint of smoky bacon and a fresh scallion kick.

Soft Pretzels Recipes

There is nothing better than a hot, buttery, salty soft pretzel. Whether you prefer them with a side of tangy mustard or a warm beer cheese dip, we’ve got the step-by-step instructions to ensure your pretzels turn out perfectly golden and delicious.

Tailgate Appetizers to Feed Any Size Crowd

From the bold crunch of loaded nachos to the spicy kick of jalapeño poppers and the savory indulgence of beer-battered onion rings, we’ve got all your football snacking needs covered. Get ready to score big with these delicious appetizers that will keep your game day crowd fueled and satisfied.

  • The Ultimate Sheet Pan Nachos with Chicken: Few foods bring on the cheers quite like nachos. What’s not to love about a food that’s completely customizable and totally foolproof? Every bite is a combination of crunchy tortilla chips, gooey cheese and flavorful toppings.
  • Spinach-Artichoke Dip Wonton Cups: Crunchy wonton pockets loaded with creamy, cheesy artichoke dip.
  • Chorizo and Cheddar Potato Skins: Simple potatoes transform into crispy cups loaded with crumbled chorizo, shredded cheddar, tangy sour cream and freshly sliced scallions.
  • Beer-Battered Onion Rings: These hot, salty snacks star a light-as-air batter that fries up perfectly golden brown with an insanely crispy crunch. Did you know you can actually use any other carbonated beverage in place of the beer? Think soda water, ginger ale or your favorite soft drink!
  • Homemade Barbecue Potato Chips: It’s hard to beat hot, crispy potato chips tossed with a homemade blend of barbecue-inspired seasonings and spices.
  • Tater Tot Nachos: Nachos + tater tots = Totchos! I’ve opted for seasoned ground beef, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, black beans and fresh veggies. The result is the ultimate snack or party appetizer for any size crowd.
  • Garlic Knots: Store-bought or homemade pizza dough gets twisted into knots then baked and brushed with homemade garlic-parsley butter and showered with Parmesan cheese.

Easy Pizza Recipes

Whether you’re a fan of classic favorites like pepperoni or a lover of creative and gourmet toppings, we’ve got the pizza recipes that will turn your football party into a delicious celebration.

  • Easy Cheesy Chicken Stromboli: Grab all your favorite pizza toppings and turn them into fillings inside this cheesy pizza braid.
  • Easy Muffin Pan Pizza Cups: These pizza cups are the best finger-friendly food because they combine the deliciousness of classic pizza in a convenient, bite-sized form. Customize with all your favorite toppings for the ultimate snack.
  • Cheesy Chicken Pizza Pockets: This recipe is completely customizable and can be made with shredded rotisserie chicken, leftover turkey, chopped veggies or any other spare odds and ends stashed in your fridge. Dip and dunk in marinara for a big win with all ages.
  • Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza Bites: Pillowy dough pockets filled with your favorite pizza toppings then baked until golden brown.
  • Bruschetta Pizza with Balsamic Syrup: Warm homemade pizza dough is baked and then rubbed with garlic before being sliced and topped with a refreshingly simple mix of diced tomatoes, minced garlic and chopped basil.
  • The Best French Bread Pizza with Burrata: Step aside, pizza toast! There’s a new mind-blowingly easy and delicious favorite in town: French Bread Pizza. It comes together in minutes and provides the perfect blank canvas for all of your favorite pizza toppings.
  • Muffin Tin Pizza Pockets: They take minutes to make and star your favorite toppings-turned-fillings. Because what’s not to love about a handheld pizza pocket?
  • Rainbow Veggie Flatbread Pizza: This recipe turns store-bought naan or flatbreads into a colorful and delicious appetizer starring creamy hummus and fresh veggies.
  • Cheesy Chicken Taco Pizza: A delicious Mexican-inspired pizza starring seasoned ground chicken or turkey, refried beans, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and a zesty touch of lime juice, all on store-bought or homemade pizza dough. Try my recipe for pizza dough without yeast!

Meatballs

From savory cheese-stuffed meatballs to sweet and tangy cocktail meatballs, this section is all about these bite-sized favorites. Serve them with toothpicks for easy snacking or in a hearty sub sandwich for a more substantial option. Meatballs are versatile and always a hit at game day gatherings.

Creative Cocktails & Mocktails

Whether you prefer an ice-cold, boozy concoction or a refreshing non-alcoholic alternative, we’ve got you covered. From touchdown-worthy cocktails with a twist to family-friendly mocktails, this section is all about raising a toast to good times, camaraderie and game day spirit.

Desserts & Sweet Treats

From gooey butterscotch cheesecake brownies to vanilla cupcakes, you’ll find an array of dessert recipes that are easy to prepare and guaranteed to score points with your fellow fans. So, whether you’re celebrating a victory or comforting friends after a tough loss, these sweet treats will ensure your football party ends on the sweetest note possible.

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Comments

  1. Hi Kelly,
    I was looking at the recipe for the Parmesan Cheese Chicken tenders. In the recipe it says 1/2 cup Parmesan and under that it says a 1/4 cup of Parmesan. I am wondering if it’s suppose to be 3/4 cup. I would love to make these.
    Thank you.

    1. Hi Charlotte! The 1/2 cup is grated Parmesan cheese while the 1/4 cup is shredded Parmesan cheese. You want both grated and shredded for the best coating on the tenders. :)

  2. Can’t wait to make the Baked Cheddar Dijon Chick Tenders for the hubs this weekend! He loves Cheez-Its, so I expect they’ll be devoured quickly during the games this weekend! He’ll dip those in our Gates BBQ sauce from Kansas City & I’ll be the queen of the day! Thank for making it so easy, Kelly!!
    Take care,
    Mischelle in Woodstock, GA

      1. Not only did we make them, but he helped! They were super easy & so delicious!! I was really impressed with how easy it was. Totally restaurant/bar quality! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!! I love seeing all the things you put out!!

        Kindest regards,
        Mischelle

  3. Loving all the recipes. I can not wait to try the pretzel twists and garlic knots! Pinning on my Game Day Yums Pinterest Board!!

  4. Kelly…I started following you and your wonderful recipes a while ago and I am so thrilled. I love all of what you post your very helpful and a great cook. Keep up the great work!!

  5. Hi!
    I love LOVE your recipes! Thank you SO much for all the tips, pointers, and advice!
    Regarding the leftover mashed potato recipes (pardon me if I may have overlooked or not notice before), I wonder if the mashed potatoes are merely mashed potatoes per se, or if they were made with other ingredients.
    If I wanted to make the leftover mashed potato recipes but didn’t have any leftover mashed potatoes and wanted to make them from scratch, then would I simply have to mash potatoes or do I have actually make the mashed potatoes first?
    Thanks in advance!
    Much admiration, Aerin from Malaysia

    1. Hi Darby – I don’t have a list of the recipes, but rather shared the slideshow as an easy way to browse by image.

  6. Love the ideas… I pinned a few… and copied some down for my next get together… Love the pomegranate guacamole idea and the chorizo in the potato skins

  7. Wow – this is some roundup.The best part about football season in my opinion is the snacks. So I’m down with all these foods!